The James Beard Foundation has announced its 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists, including California talents who span the state. The semifinalists were announced in advance of the returning James Beard Awards presented by Capital One, with the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony taking place on June 13 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Congrats to all of the California-based semifinalists!
Outstanding Restaurateur:
Greg Dulan, Dulan’s Soul Food Restaurant, Los Angeles
Willy Ng, Koi Palace, Dragon Beaux, and Palette Tea House, San Francisco
Outstanding Chef:
Reem Assil, Reem’s, Oakland and San Francisco
Niki Nakayama, n/naka, Los Angeles
Outstanding Restaurant:
Paragary’s, Sacramento
Post & Beam, Los Angeles
Emerging Chef:
Casey Felton, Bahn Oui, Los Angeles
Crystal Wahpepah, Wahpepah’s Kitchen, Oakland
David Yoshimura, Nisei, San Francisco
Best New Restaurant:
ABACÁ, San Francisco
Angry Egret Dinette, Los Angeles
Horn BBQ, Oakland
Outstanding Pastry Chef:
Margarita Manzke, République, Los Angeles
Outstanding Baker:
Joseph, Archalous and Caroline Geragosian, Old Sasoon Bakery, Pasadena
Clement Hsu, Katherine Campecino-Wong and James Wong, Breadbelly, San Francisco
Outstanding Hospitality Presented by American Airlines:
House of Prime Rib, San Francisco
Outstanding Wine Program:
The Punchdown, Oakland
Outstanding Bar Program:
Friends and Family, Oakland
Genever, Los Angeles
Best Chef: California:
Chris Barnum-Dann, Localis, Sacramento
Sylvan Mishima Brackett, Rintaro, San Francisco
Val M. Cantu, Californios, San Francisco
Keith Corbin, Alta Adams, Los Angeles
Srijith Gopinathan, Ettan, Palo Alto
Tony Ho, Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant, Rosemead
Judept Irra, Tamales Elena y Antojitos, Bell Gardens
Brandon Jew, Mister Jiu’s, San Francisco
Matthew Kammerer, The Harbor House Inn, Elk
Bryant Ng, Cassia, Santa Monica
Heena Patel, Besharam, San Francisco
Natalia Pereira, Woodspoon, Los Angeles
Melissa Perello, Octavia, San Francisco
Minh Phan, Phenakite, Los Angeles
Justin Pichetrungsi, Anajak Thai, Los Angeles
Carlos Salgado, Taco María, Costa Mesa
Sarintip “Jazz” Singsanong, Jitlada, Los Angeles
James Syhabout, Commis, Oakland
Pim Techamuanvivit, Nari, San Francisco
Anthony Wells, Juniper and Ivy, San Diego
The full list of 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists can be found on the James Beard Foundation website.